Level Up (A5E) Ways to increase Eldritch Whip damage?

[MehGyver]

What ways have you guys found (other than Fiendish Vigor, Hex, and Noxious Invigoration) to increase the damage potential of Eldritch Whip?

 

[Tessarael]

Spirit Shroud from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, if permitted by your DM, helps at higher levels, +2d8 damage on targets within 10' from Warlock level 9+ by casting Spirit Shroud as a 5th level spell.

If a party member has Rallying Speaker, or some other ability that gives you more temporary HP at higher levels, that gives you more damage output with Eldritch Whip.

However, I don't think it scales as well as Eldritch Scythe even for single target damage, because a melee pact weapon adds magic attack and damage bonus to Eldritch Scythe but not to Eldritch Whip. The benefit of Eldritch Whip is that you have an attack range of 15' and get some temporary HP, which might just keep you alive.

 

[Tessarael]

Also, if your DM permits Armor of Agathys from the 5E PHB, that gives 5 temporary HP and if a creature hits you with a melee attack while you have these hit points, the creature takes 5 cold damage. Casting Armor of Agathys with a higher level spell slot, gives an additional 5 HP and 5 cold damage for each spell level above 1st. The duration is 1 hour and it does not require concentration. Note that Armor of Agathys is a Warlock spell in 5E D&D not listed here: Spells | Level Up

So casting Armor of Agathys with 7 spell points at a 5th level spell, boosted by the Noxious Invigoration eldritch invocation, a level 9 Warlock could have 24 temporary HP at the start of combat. Then, you can deal +12 damage with Eldritch Whip when you hit, in exchange for those temporary HP. Assuming a spellcasting ability modifier of +5 and Agonizing Blast to add that to Eldritch Whip damage, along with Spirit Shroud cast at 5th level with another 7 spell points, if you hit both times with Eldritch Whip but not critically, you deal damage of 2x (d6 Eldritch Whip + 2d8 Spirit Shroud + 5 spellcasting ability modifier) + 12 burning those temporary HP = 47 average damage, and you regain 23.5 temporary HP on average, which you can burn again in the same manner next round. It is not bad, but it pales in comparison to what you can do with two-weapon fighting.

 

[Steampunkette]

Go Rogue. Grab a subclass that lets you sneak attack on a spell attack roll.

Eldritch Whip Sneak Attack.

 

[Tessarael]

Go Rogue. Grab a subclass that lets you sneak attack on a spell attack roll. Eldritch Whip Sneak Attack.

Hi Steampunkette,

Which Rogue archetype allows you to sneak attack on a spell attack roll? I don't see one in A5E or 5E D&D.

This can be done with Rogue 4/Warlock 8 and these three feats: Shadowdancer, Shadowmancer, and Shadow Assassin. The Shadow Assassin feat gives: "While hidden from a target and in an area of darkness or dim light, you may apply your Sneak Attack damage to an eldritch blast." But the damage done will be less than if you went single-classed Warlock and didn't spend the feats, and you'll need to spend your bonus action each turn to hide again if you want to use it each round.

There are two A5E spells that allow you to make a melee weapon attack with which sneak attack can be used: Air Wave and Altered Strike. There are a few 5E D&D spells that allow you to make a melee weapon attack or ranged weapon attack with which sneak attack can be used: Green-Flame Blade, Booming Blade, Magic Stone, and Shadow Blade. But I don't see any spells like this that are compatible with Eldritch Blast variants.

 

[Steampunkette]

Hi Steampunkette,

Which Rogue archetype allows you to sneak attack on a spell attack roll? I don't see one in A5E or 5E D&D.

This can be done with Rogue 4/Warlock 8 and these three feats: Shadowdancer, Shadowmancer, and Shadow Assassin. The Shadow Assassin feat gives: "While hidden from a target and in an area of darkness or dim light, you may apply your Sneak Attack damage to an eldritch blast." But the damage done will be less than if you went single-classed Warlock and didn't spend the feats, and you'll need to spend your bonus action each turn to hide again if you want to use it each round.

There are two A5E spells that allow you to make a melee weapon attack with which sneak attack can be used: Air Wave and Altered Strike. There are a few 5E D&D spells that allow you to make a melee weapon attack or ranged weapon attack with which sneak attack can be used: Green-Flame Blade, Booming Blade, Magic Stone, and Shadow Blade. But I don't see any spells like this that are compatible with Eldritch Blast variants.

None that -I- know of.

But people homebrew hundreds of archetypes every year. Just grab one and enjoy the implausible amount of damage.